SAN JUAN Predators hurdled their biggest challenge yet by edging Paralympic, 10-5.10.5, 3-0 in Armageddon to remain as the only unbeaten team in the 2021 PCAP San Miguel Corporation-Ayala Land chess championships over the weekend.

Held to a 10.5-10.5 standoff by Paralympic in regular play, San Juan buckled down to work and won all three games in their playoffs behind GM Oliver Barbosa, FM Narquingden Reyes and Narquingel Reyes.

Barbosa outduelled FM Roel Abelgas, Narquingden Reyes toppled IM Daniel Quizon and Narquingel Reyes shocked reigning IPCA world champion FM Sander Severino for San Juan’s three victories.

The win by Barbosa over Abelgas made up for his two losses to Severino in their blitz and rapid games.

WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda swept WNM Jean Lee-Nacita in the female board, while IM Ricardo de Guzman blanked Joselito Cada in the senior board to lead the Hubert Estrella-mentored Predators.

Coupled with its trouble-free 21-0 win over guest team Sunrays, San Juan tightened its grip on the lead with 11 straight wins and 174.5 total points.

Three teams — Caloocan Load Manna Knights, Laguna Heroes and Pasig Pirates — also took different paths against Southern Division opponents to share third to fifth places with 10-1 win-loss records.

Caloocan overwhelmed Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates, 16-5, and Palawan Queen’s Gambits, 16-5; Laguna outplayed Sunrays,19-2, but lost to Iloilo Kisela Knights, 8.5-12.5; and Pasig defeated Iloilo, 13-8, and Negros Kingsmen, 13.5-7.5.

Manila Indios Bravos humbled Negros, 15-6, but bowed Lapu-Lapu Naki Warriors, 9.5-11.5, to drop to fifth place with 9-2

After losing to San Juan,Paralympic bounced back strong to beat Pampanga Chekers, 14-7, and remain at the helm with a 9-2 slate in the Southern Division.

Penang Panthers-Malaysia posted back-to-back victories over Davao Eagles, 11-10, and Bangkok Double Bishop-Thailand,14-7, to climb into a tie for second to fourth places with Iloilo and Lapu-Lapu with 7-4 slates.

Another guest foreign team, SinQGApore, came through with 17-4 win over Pampanga and 12.5-8.5 triumph over Davao to stay within striking distance at 6-5.

Also with the same records are Camarines Soaring Eagles, 21-0 winner over Pengcheng-China and 14.5-6.5 victor over Olongapo Rainbow; and Lapu-Lapu, and Negros.

Toledo Trojans otuclassed Olongapo, 13.5-7.5, and Rizal Towers, 15-6, to move up to 5-6 overall.

PCAP, the country’s first professional chess league, is headed by Atty. Paul Elauria as president-commissioner, and Michael Angelo Chua as chairman.

The tournament is sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), headed by Chairman Abraham “Baham” Mitra.

Schedule for Oct. 27

Round 12 –– San Juan vs Pampanga, Laguna vs. Davao, Pasig vs. Bangkok, Manila vs. Pengcheng, Isabela vs. Olongapo, Caloocan vs.Rizal, Iloilo vs. Sunrays, Negros vs. Paralympics, Lapu-Lapu vs. SinQGApore, Surigao vs. Penang, Palawan vs. Mindoro, Toledo vs. Camarines

Round 13 — Pampanga vs. Rizal, Olongapo vs. Caloocan, Pengcheng vs. Isabela, Bangkok vs. Manila, Davao vs. Pasig, San Juan vs.Laguna, Sunrays vs Camarines, Mindoro vs. Toledo, Penang vs. Palawan, SinQGApore vs Surigao, Paralypics vs. Lapu-Lapu, Iloilo vs. Negros.